Construction and sinking of caissons, &amp;c.



PATENTED SEPT. l1, 1906. D. E. MORAN.

CONSTRUCTION AND SINKING OP CAISSONS, 8m.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1906.

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l INVENTOR y fllfo/M4 115, /wf/L f 461401/ caf( WITNSSES PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

, D. E. MORAN. CONSTRUCTION AND SINKING 0F CAIssoNs, am. APPLICATION I'ILD JUNE 15, 1906.

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DANIEL E. MQRAN, E MENDH'AM',k NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

coNsTnuo'vrloN-AND sINkING vo|= cAllssoNs, ae.

Patented Sept. 1 1, 1906.

Application filed June 15, 1908. Serial lo. 21,845"

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DANIEL E. MoRAN, a

i citizen of the United States, residing at Mendham, in the of New Jersey,have Invented certain new and county of Morris and State useful Improvements in the Construction and Sinking of Caissons or the Like, of `which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide certain improveniente in the construction of caissons or piers and in the method of constructing and sinking which are especially applicable to the type of pneumatic caissons ordinarily sunk through earth to natural-rock subfoun# dation toconstitute when sunk piers transnitting the load of a building to the rock be- -The particular obj ect of the invention is to provide means for introducing certain metal reinforces, for the concrete, the reinforce in the preferred embodiment of the invention extending continuously from the top of the caisson to the subfoundation, so that there shall be no substantial de th of concrete without reinforce. The sa e load for reinforced concrete is considerablyA greater than that for concrete without reinforce. If any substantial part of the Istructure be Without reinforce, then the strength of the entire column-is only thatof concrete without. reinforce.V Preferably, also, the body of thecaisson extends solidly throughout its height from the usual central shaft to the outer face, so that it constitutes a substantially solid pier of maximum weight-supporting crosssection, the weight-supporting power being in substantially direct proportion to the solid cross-section.

Various other advantages are referred to in detail hereinafter. A

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the lower 'part of, a caisson and the working 1 chamber. F'Q'. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 olf'Fig. 1, showing only half the lengthof the caisson. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1, showing the continuation of the reinforces after the caisson is sunk to its proper de th. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections simil) ar to Fig. 8, showing other embodi- `ments of the invention. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail. Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 3, illustrating other embodiments of the Invention.

' an initial strain -cuttmg edge to the The present application is designed to cover, broadly, the reinforcement by introduc'lng steel in the form ofa continuous Inetallic connection from the superimposed load to the subfoundation, 4the reinforce being preferably extended down to the Working chamber until the caisson is sunk to its finalv depth and being then continued to the subfoundation and even subjected, if desired, to

to insurefa proper and unifprm bearing of the steel on the subfoundatlon. The reinforcement according to theV specicembodiment illustrated is preferably arranged between the shaft-lining and the outer surface of the caisson, or it may consist of the shaft-lining itself. In practice preferably rods will be embedded between' the shaft-lining and the outer surface, and the shaft-lining will also be provided with a support extending down to the subfoundation, so that when the shaft is filled with concrete the rods and the shaft-lining will both serve as reinforces.

In additional applications l have described various other arrangements of the reinforce, all of which are within the broadclaims of this application, the structures, however7 being specifically distinguished from those on which `the present claims are based and having peculiar advantages specified in said applications. The broad invention i includes also various other embodiments.

The term subfoundation is used to include not only the natural rock to which the excavation is usually carried, but also an artificial reinforced concrete subfoundation which-may be built upon the rock. ln the practical work of sinking pneumatic caissons through earth it seldom happens that the cutting edge is sunk entirelyT to the rock foundation. The excavation is carried below the rock, but the 'cutting edge-that 1s .to say, the entire caisson-is held up some inches above the rock. f

ln my Patents Nos. 759,388 and 759,389, of May 10, 1904, it was proposed togconnect the base of the shaft with the cutting edge by,- inclined rods and alsoA to provide an embedded cylinder of expanded metal near the outer surface ofthe concrete to protect this part of the concrete in the absence of the usual surrounding cofer dam 'and by its tensile ,strength to hold the concrete against -outvward lateral strains, this expanded metal bemg also supported upon the cutting edge.

The metal shown in those patents, however, is to be distinguished from the reinforce provided by the present invention foi` transmitting the load directly to the subfoundation, and preferably by means of still1 rods or the like bearing with a certain amount-of strain on the rock. (The metal in the patented structure was for the purpose of strengthening the caisson to resist the strains encountered in molding and sinking it. If I should wish to use the steel in said patent for assisting in the supporting of the load, it would still be necessary to carry the reinforcingr effeet to the rock foundation by means of vertical posts or columns extending from the base of the shaft to the rock or from the cutting edge to the rock. The objection which applies to these patented structures, that the reinforcement is not capable of the necessary extension, applies also,I believe, to all previous attempts in this-direction.

Referring' now to the particular embodiments of the invention illustrated, Fig. 1 shows a caisson of a type covered in the application of myself and John W. Doty, Serial No. 276,767, and in which the caisson has a body A,of concrete, supported upon the side walls B of the working chamber and forming also the roof of the working chamber C. The shaft for the passage of buckets and men is provided with a tubular steel lining D and is of any usual or suitable type. Horizontal rods E are embedded in the concrete to strengthen it, especially at the sides of the shaft where it is of minimum section, the

body of the caisson being molded before it is sunk and being subjected to considerable transverse strains.

In order to provide the load-supporting reinforcement referred to, there are embedded in the concrete body preferably stiff vertical rods F, extending continuously from the top of the concrete and projecting at their lower ends into the working chamber sufliciently to permit of the attachment of an extension running to the subfoundation. The rods F may be of any suitabledimensions and design, plain or provided -with keys or shoulders, and they may be connected or disconnected from each other, as desired. It is understood that the body of the caisson is fholded from the lower end upward in sections of,

say, twelve totwentyfeet in height at a time,v

and the rods F may be continued upward in similar fashion by means of end flanges G or other joining means. It is not essential, however, that the invention be practiced with the new style 0f caisson shown in Fig. 1, though this offers special facilities for the carrying out of the invention. The older type of caisson, (shown in Fig. 4,) with timber side walls H for theworking chamber and a timber roof J and with an open coffer-dam K, which is filled with concrete after it is sunk, may be utilized in connection with this invention by providing rods F, which extend down into the working chamber through apertures in the roof provided with packingwashers L, held in placebyv bolted rings M, so as to prevent substantial loss of air from the working chamber, it being understood that there ,is no air-pressure within the cofferdam, communication with the surface being through a shaft having a steel lining D.

Similarly for they type of caisson shown in Fig. 5, with metal side walls extending up to Y form the coifer-dam and with a metal roof O, the rods F in this case may pass through the `roof, as in the other cases, and be provided with apa-ir of lock-nuts or washers at opposite sides of the roof to make a tight joint, or a rod F may be provided, as shown at the left of Fig. 4, which is provided with a baseiiange Q, adapted to be bolted down upon the roof O. Each of the rods F and F is equally adapted to be extended to the subfoundation.

When the casing has been sunk to its final depth, as shown in Figs. 3, 4C, and 5, with its cutting edge R resting some distance above the rock-surface S, the reinforcing is extend- `ed down to the rock. For this purpose I may Lise the rods T, substantially identical with the rods F, and I may provide reversely-directed threads U U', Fig. 6, 'upon the lower end of the rod F and the upper end of the rod T, respectively, and an internally-threaded sleeve V, acting. as a turnbuckle to draw the rods together or spread them apart. The rod T will be approximately of proper length to extend to the rock and may then be put `ander an initial compressive strain by the sleeve V, so as to with certainty relieve the surrounding concrete of a part of the strain.

With a rod such as F', Fig. 5, the lower end of which is attached to` the roof of the chamber, it is only necessary to provide an extension-rod T of proper length with a flanged head W, adapted to be engaged by the same *bolts which hold the base Q of the upper rod,

so that'the two are fastened together with the sheet-metal roof between them and form practically continuations of each other. The rod T itself may be adjustable in length, or fillin blocks may be provided between the roof an the head W-of the extension-rod, or various other improvements may be provided for insuring a bearing of the extension-rod upon the subfoundation. y

In building such a caisson I may use a removable shaft-lining-such, for example, as

. is described in the application of myself and John W. Doty, Serial No. 309,850-so that when the caisson is sunk the shaft-lining may be removed and the hole filled with concrete, reinforced or otherwise, which would become practically monolithic with the body of the caisson. Preferably, however, I use plain tubing for the shaft-lining D and I utilize this tubing as an additional reinforce of extra IIO and ro'ds or columns Y may be introduced bey l tween the subfoundation S and the base of the gusset-plates, the extensions Y being adjustable in length, as by means of a sleeve V or a wed e Z or other suitable means, or instead of t e gusset-plates X rectangular webs a may be used, as 1n Fig. 8, and in any case the extensions Y may rest upon horizontal or inverted arch-beams b, which in turn are supported by members c, extending down to the-rock S, the parts b and c constituting an artificial subfoundation.

The described system of reinforcing may be used in connection with the systems described in my other applications referred to or in connection with various other systems.

Though I have describedA with great particularit of detail certain specific embodiments o my invention, yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Various modifications thereof in detail and in the arrangement and combination of the parts may be madeiby those skilled in the art without` departure from the invention.

What I claim is- 1. The method of reinforcing a caisson, which consists in roviding itwlth reinforcing metal extending down to the working chamber, and after it is sunk continuing the reinforcing metal down to the subfoundation.

2. The method of reinforcin a caisson, which consists in providing it wlth reinforcing metal extendln down to the Working chamber, and after 1t is sunk continuing the reinforcing metal down to the subfoundation and putting an initial strain on the metal to insure .a uniform and proper bearing on the subfoundation.

3. The method of reinforcing a caisson, which consists in' buildin and sinking the caisson with a metal sha t-lining, and then introducing a metal support for said lining. l4. Acaisson reinforced by a continuous f!y A 8 metallic connection from the superimposed load to the subfoundation. j

5. A caisson reinforced by metal the lower end of which is supported independent of the cutting edge.

6. A caisson reinforced by metal the lower portion of which is within the working chamber, and extends to the subfoundation.

7. A caisson having a body of concrete, and having a reinforce of metal at a substantial distance inward from the outer face and extending to the subfoundation so as to assist in supporting the vertical strains on the inner ortion of the concrete.

8. caisson having a body of masonry reinforced by metal the lower portion of which is supported independent of the cutting edge, in combination with an artificial reinforced subfoundation.

9. In combination with a caisson, a metal reinforcement above the roof, a metal reinforcement extending below the roof, and means for connecting said reinforcements to form a continuous reinforcement extending through the roof.

. 10, In combination with a caisson, a metal reinforcement above the roof, and extending below the roof, and means for adjusting the length thereof to the inequalities of the subfoundation. 11. A caisson having a body of concret formed solid throughout its height from the 'shaft to the outer face, and having embedded therein stiff vertical rods adapted to assist in supporting the vertical strains.

12. A solid concrete caisson having embeddedtherein stiff vertical rods adapted to assist in supportin the vertical strains. u

13. A caisson aving a metal shaft-llnlng, and having a metal support for Vthe shaft-11ning extending to the subfoundation.

14. A caisson having a metalmember extending to the subfoundation.

15. In combination with a caisson, a metal member embedded therein and extensible in len th.

` witness whereof I have hereunto si ed my name in the presence of two subscri ing Witnesses.

DANIEL E. MORAN.

Witnesses:

DOMINGO A. UsrNA, TnEoDoRE T. SNELL.

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